ࡱ> JLI ;2bjbjVV 4><<;*#####7777 C$7f0g}}}}|||$8 R #||||| ##}} |#}#}|:u}PSAA%7|1 60f;R   #0|||||||  |||f|||| ||||||||| : SMURA Presidents Report May 2011 Geraldine Thomas It has seemed to me a busy year as I gradually got used to the position of SMURA President. Special thanks to the Executive who have turned up loyally for meetings and as individuals have taken over leadership for various functions. Particular thanks to Ron Cosper, our Past President, who is my constant sounding board for so many issues, to our treasurer Elaine Mc Cullough and to our secretary Tony Farrell. In Memoriam: This January we were saddened by the death of an old friend and colleague, Dr. Bernard Davis from Education and Arts. Bernie had frequently involved himself in SMURA activities and we extend our condolences to his widow Margaret. Your Executive and I see SMURA working primarily in two directions. On the one hand we are a group of friends and former colleagues who enjoy seeing one another from time to time, enjoy socializing together and participating in meaningful events. On the other hand we recognize that seniors, including university retirees, have ongoing professional interests such as the continuation of their scholarly pursuits and ongoing concerns around issues such as health care and pensions. Each year SMURA tries to do some things to further both ends. The events open to all members since our last AGM include A delightful party and fall get together at the home of Lilian and Michael Falk. This has become an annual event to which people look forward. Our annual financial seminar/party hosted by TD Waterhouse at the Radisson Hotel. Always good advice, good company and tasty treats all proved by our hosts An enjoyable pre Christmas social gathering at the Henry House In October Michael Devenney, a leadership consultant and president of Bluteau, Devenney & Co. made a presentation called Making Effective Decisions in Retirement In essence this suggested that we all as individuals, in different stages of our lives, can benefit from specialized tests such as the KOLBE which help determine our personality types and our likely differing styles in making important life changing decisions. Michaels partner David Bluteau also spoke of the impact of behaviour styles in financial planning. In the new year we opened with a Presentation by Terry Gordon on Housing Issues for Seniors. Dr. Gordon, a former faculty member at both Dalhousie and Saint Marys, is now a registered real estate agent. He spoke about important factors to consider for real estate needs in retirement, real estate as an option for investment in retirement, and the Competition Consent Agreement. Our most recent presentation saw retired University of Kings College professor Henry Roper speak on Thomas Raddalls Halifax, Warden of the North. Dr. Roper discussed where the books main interests lie ( in military history) and he indicated those parts of it which now seemed outdated or prejudicial. His talked showed how the history of Halifax is evolving not just in pure content but in historians approach to the subject. - At least two lunchtime social events at local restaurants Proposed/Planned Upcoming Events SMURA and SMUFU have received requests to do another seminar which brings together various health plan providers for seniors. While this is aimed primarily at new retirees, we are also interested that the presenters consider those of us already retired who may be thinking of changing plans. The date is tentatively set for June 14 and SMURA will co-host this event together with SMUFU. Information should be coming shortly. an end of summer/ welcome to fall social event research projects by our university faculty retirees October 1 will see SMURA and Dalhousies Retiree Association co-host an Atlantic Provinces University Retirees conference at Saint Marys. The theme is Engaging in your Community, your University and with your Mind. Leonard Preyra will be one of the keynote speakers. We shall have reports from many of the university retiree associations and individuals in Atlantic Canada and presentations by people who are knowledgeable about the various senior colleges here in NS, in PEI and in Toronto. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. The registration will be a modest $20.00 and will include lunch and three coffee breaks. This one day event is open to everyone and we hope that many of you will plan to attend. Its a great opportunity to meet retired colleagues from other universities and to hear of their activities and ideas - further Sunday afternoon special presentation. Your Executive is interested in other suggestions. If you have an idea for a speaker or a theme, please speak to any member of the Executive Contacts with Other University Retirees Last fall Dalhousies Retiree Association hosted a luncheon at the Dal Faculty Club to which they invited representatives from several university retiree associations in Nova Scotia and one or two representatives from universities without formal associations. Representing SMURA were Ron Cosper, Wendy Katz, Arthur Murphy, Ron Cosper and I. The main focus- I could say push- from some at Dal is their idea that we should form a provincial association of university retirees which then would be eligible to request a seat on the Group of IX which advises the Seniors Secretariat for NS. That body gives advice to various governments ministries on issues such as pensions and health. We found the session informative and have some sympathy for the idea of a joint organization, but at the present your Executive is not prepared to suggest that we actively move toward the formation of such a body. We think that more exploration of the idea needs to be done, and we need to get to know one another more before we move ahead with this. In particular we note that at the present time Nova Scotia only has three universities which have formal associations (SMU, Dalhousie and Acadia), the structure of the proposed organization seemed overly complex, and we are concerned that we not become part of something which looks to have as a principal goal the desire to be a lobby group for those universities with Defined Benefit pension plans. In the planning for the October 1 regional conference Ron Cosper and I have been your representatives and worked with retired faculty from Dalhousie: Tarun Ghose, Alastair Sinclair and Randy Barkhouse. Randy Barkhouse and I will co- chairs the October conference. Being part of this planning group has helped Ron and me become more cognizant of the style and ambitions of the Dalhousie University Retirees Association and I have found that a worthwhile experience. The getting to know one another which I mentioned above for me, at least, has been greatly expedited by being part of this planning group. We have formed the custom of inviting Dalhousie retirees to our various public presentations. Several individuals have come and some have mentioned to me that they are very pleased to be included since Dal tried to do something similar in the past, but abandoned the idea since they could not get a consistent audience. Ron Cosper gave a report to the SMURA Executive on the CURAC meeting at York University last year. In his report Ron noted the accessibility of opportunities for past-time teaching following retirement seemed more obvious at many other universities and that remuneration varied considerably from institution to institution. He said that there seemed to be little interest among the members of CURA in the active participation of retirees from the smaller Canadian universities which are almost totally unrepresented. Ron has suggested some areas of concern which SMURA might pursue and these are noted below. We did not send representatives to this years CRAC meetings in Regina but should probably ensure that someone goes next year. SMURA and CURAC can help- but not completely- with the expense for this . I understand that the current president of CURA will likely be attending our regional conference in October. Internal to Saint Marys University I am pleased to report that we now have an official SMURA mailbox. That can be useful for any SMURA business and I noted in my reminder for this AGM that people can send their annual dues to us through the new mailbox. Thanks to Gabe Morrison for authorizing this. - We have a newly located SMURA office in Burke 308 The office is comfortable, has a computer for our use (though no printer) and access is by a code on the door. Anyone wishing the code should contact me. We now have official SMURA stationery- paper and envelopes, so if you need this for any business matters or contacts with other universities please see me. I have also placed some in the SMURA office. - Thanks to Ron Cosper for maintaining our SMURA website. The address is HYPERLINK "http://www.smu.ca/retirees/"http://www.smu.ca/retirees/ or through the Saint Marys home page, then Faculty and Staff and then General Information Thanks to Dr. Colin Dodds for authorizing funding for our SMURA/Quarter Century Club presentations in the Sobey Building and to his executive assistant Stephanie Babcock for her constant help to our organization We have requested- and I need to reiterate the request- that SMURA members should receive a discount on membership in the Tower. At present a retiree receives a 15% seniors discount only unless the individual specifically asks for consideration as a former employee. The Executive feels that our retirees should receive the 25% discount offered to alumni. - Last year Ron Cosper wrote to SMUFU suggesting that we consider together ways to provide past retirement health care for employees, specifically that we together consider including retirees in the universitys health care plan under a separate clause. To this date no progress has been made with the suggestion. Proposed Suggestions for SMURA action The following are suggestions which emerged from different sources. We suggest some discussion on them at this AGM and we ask for volunteers to spearhead action. The executive members cannot do it all alone: modifications to provisions of emeritus status for retirees assistance with the scholarly activity of retirees reimbursement for scholarly expense an associated membership in SMURA for the spouses or partners of deceased members a volunteer to send out cards at the time of a special occasion for a retiree such as a big birthday, and cards of well wishes and sympathy at the time of sickness and death. 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